Mike Harris

Nationals recall memorable MLB debuts as Anthony Rendon arrives

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa has a very vivid memory from his major-league debut. It was Sept. 1, 2010 and the Nats were playing in Florida against the Marlins. Espinosa drove in a run with a double. That isn't the memory.

April 22, 2013

HARRIS: Nationals have some issues, but it’s way too early to panic

If the season ended Thursday, the Nationals even with all their "problems" would qualify for the playoffs. Which sounds just as stupid to say now as it does to say the season is already off the rails.

April 18, 2013

HARRIS: Alex Ovechkin’s MVP case bolstered with each Capitals win

Adam Oates coaches the Capitals, which means he coaches Alex Ovechkin. So of course he's going to be "very biased" when discussing the Most Valuable Player candidacy of the man who has put the Caps on his back like a big ol' piano and carried the team to the cusp of the NHL playoffs.

April 17, 2013

HARRIS: Jack Hillen’s surge symbolic of contributions from the Caps’ entire roster

There is more to the Capitals' win streak than the play of those expected to play at such a high level. Steve Oleksy's play on defense, Jack Hillen's solid defense as well as his scoring surge, Jason Chimera showing he still has "it" – pretty much the entire roster is playing at a high level.

April 16, 2013

HARRIS: Boston horror latest tragedy to chip away at hope

Monday's attack at the Boston Marathon served as another kick in the stomach, a reminder we can never get too comfortable. Any time. Anywhere.

April 16, 2013

Nationals lose another game to Braves, Wilson Ramos to hamstring injury

At least Washington came out of Friday's disappointment in good physical health. Not so Saturday, as catcher Wilson Ramos injured his left hamstring trying to beat out a ground ball in the eighth.

April 13, 2013

HARRIS: In Freddie Freeman injury, a flip side to Redskins’ RG3 approach

The lessons here -- and this is where the other local team needs to pay attention -- are athletes don't make the call and you make the decision based on what you see, not on what you hear.

April 11, 2013

HARRIS: Alex Ovechkin surge boosts entire Caps roster

Ovechkin is hot and he's carrying the Caps along for the ride. Sure, others are playing well. Sure, they don't do anything without being a team and all that. But let's make one thing clear — Alex Ovechkin rows that boat.

April 10, 2013

HARRIS: Wilson Ramos, Kurt Suzuki catching onto dual role

Faced with a choice between two No. 1-capable catchers, Nats manager Davey Johnson made an unusual call: Let's use both.

April 9, 2013

HARRIS: We’ll have to wait a while to judge Capitals’ Martin Erat trade

George McPhee is either a genius who has been able to oversell or a schlub who got taken in a moment of delusion and mad desire to finally see his team make a real, live run at the Stanley Cup. We may know the answer in a couple of weeks. We may not know for a few years.

April 4, 2013

HARRIS: Wilson Ramos’ return a hidden highlight of Opening Day

If ever there's a person who could use some good fortune, it is Ramos. Saying he had a difficult stretch doesn't do justice to what the young Venezuelan went through.

April 2, 2013

HARRIS: Opening Day a grand stage for Nationals’ young superstars

Washington opened its 2013 season Monday at Nationals Park with a 2-0 victory over the Miami Marlins. No offense to all the others who took part. The day was about The Top Pick Twins and all about The Top Pick Twins.

April 1, 2013

HARRIS: Nationals’ Opening Day brings Stephen Strasburg, unwrapped

Monday, more than four years after they earned the right to draft him, the Nationals will send Strasburg to the mound at Nationals Park to open the 2013 season. In many ways, it is the real beginning of the Strasburg Era.

March 31, 2013

HARRIS: Keeping Henry Rodriguez is, for now, the right call for the Nationals

Talented but inconsistent Henry Rodriguez will be in the bullpen to open the season for the Washington Nationals. He can be maddening but it is still too early to give up on him.

March 29, 2013

HARRIS: Almost done early, Marquette plays on in the NCAA tournament after crushing Miami

The Marquette team that struggled to get past a 14-seed in Davidson and had to rally from nine down in the second half to beat Butler in its next game put together a shockingly strong performance to beat Miami 71-61 on Thursday night at Verizon Center.

March 28, 2013

Nationals 2013: HARRIS: Cooler than winning it all? Winning it all during the day

Bill Millsaps is a former sports editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. During a long and distinguished career, he won multiple Virginia sports writer of the year awards and he was named The Associated Press Sports Editors' Red Smith Award winner in 2011.

March 28, 2013